Latest MCBC News, Events & Stories

Workshop: Creating Ministries of Excellence

Creating Ministries of Excellence: Developing Helpful Feedback and Spaces for Insight

Congregations are encouraged to support ministers through thoughtful evaluation and committees such as Pastor–Congregation Relations Committees (PCRC). This Saturday morning workshop will explore how to create helpful, life-giving feedback processes that strengthen ministry, clarify priorities, and support growth.

Revitalization Grant Update

United Mennonite Church - Black Creek

Shawna Balbon is growing our youth ministry at UMCBC through weekly Bible studies, Friday Night Drop-In, service opportunities in our church, and outreach events in the community. Looking forward to grad recognition and a possible missions trip to Salt Spring this summer.

From The Desk of Our Executive Minister

The "Regional Church" is a bit of a misnomer, because there is no regional, national, or universal church without the local church. The power of the Holy Spirit is most on display in local congregations and the lives of believers. By design, the local church is God's Plan A — a sign and signpost of a different way of being human, infused by the grace, Spirit, and teachings of Jesus.

So the Regional Church is really, first of all, a Resource Network. To put it another way: the regional and national should be laser-focused on whatever moves local churches toward being healthy, outward-facing, and connected.

Our three main ministry areas are a good start: (1) Cultivating Anabaptist Vision, (2) Growing Community, and (3) Engaging God's World. I'd argue they still need greater alignment with strategies that help local churches live this out in an outward direction, and less dilution from secondary priorities, good as they are.

From The Desk of Our Executive Minister

MCBC, the Westcoast Anabaptist Network, does not exist in isolation. We are part of Mennonite Church Canada (MCCAN), a nationwide network of Regional Churches. In my role, I serve both MCBC and MCCAN, working locally in BC and contributing to the broader national work. I just returned from the May Joint Council meeting.

When you give and serve generously as an individual (above and beyond your regular giving) and when your congregation gives to support MCBC (ideally 5 to 7% of local church income), you are investing in more than local ministry. You are also supporting the shared work we do together as MCCAN. mcbc.ca/giving 

Since the 2017 restructuring, Regional Churches (no longer called "conferences") are the regional expression of MCCAN. There is a healthy division of labour: some work happens regionally, some is shared nationwide, and we collaborate closely across that spectrum. This collaboration is expressed through the Joint Council, which includes one representative from each Regional Church (Jennifer Regehr represents MCBC), a Moderator (Fran Hofenk, who recently began her term), the Regional Executive Ministers (including myself), and the nationwide Executive Minister Doug Klassen, who spoke at our AGM this past year.

From The Desk of Our Executive Minister

MCBC's collective ministry is organized around three key themes that strengthen our witness. The first one is:

1. Cultivating Anabaptist Vision. What is Anabaptism (beyond Palmer Beckers Three)

Theologically we are in a space that confesses that God's grace is freely given and genuinely offered to all, not hidden in a divine decree that renders human response irrelevant, but displayed in the living Jesus, who calls every person to repentance, discipleship, and life together in the Spirit-formed community of the church.

Whereas neo-Reformed determinism (e.g., TULIP, double predestination) locates God's sovereignty primarily in an eternal electing decree, Anabaptism locates it in the crucified and risen Jesus. God is most sovereign when he absorbs violence rather than inflicts it. This is a very different picture of power.

Earth Day Resources

See below a selection of Earth Day resources for worship, reflection, and learning more about Creation Care.